Swimming and/or bathing cap



y 1966 s. F. LIMA ETAL 3,259,912

SWIMMING AND/OR BATHING CAP Filed March 18, 1964 FIE-L I NVENTORS SAL E LIMA MARIO MARIGONDA TORNEYS United States Patent 3,259,912 SWIMMING AND/0R BATHING CAP Sal F. Lima, San Leandro, and Mario Marigonda, Alameda, Calif., assignors of one-half to said Lima and one-half to said Marigonda Filed Mar. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 352,742 6 Claims. (Cl. 2-68) The present invention relates to swimming, bathing, etc. caps in general, and is more particularly directed to a bathing cap which is arranged to keep the hair dry while maintaining the coiifure in place without crushing or mashing the curls or waves.

Present day hair styles are such that conventional bathing caps cannot be employed to cover the hair without mashing the coiifure, curls or waves. More particularly, With modern coifl ures such as the bouifant hairstyle the hair is back combed to provide a pull? or bubble which extends a substantial distance above the scalp. The puff is of course substantially loose and soft and is therefore quite susceptible to being crushed by a very small amount of pressure being exerted thereon. Consequently, conventional bathing caps having a relatively large resiliency in order to fit snugly upon the head and thereby prevent the penetration of water to the hair exert sufficient force to crush the puff and hence ruin the coiffure. Still other types of conventional caps which have a low resiliency and are therefore highly yieldable, and which utilize a draw string or equivalent means about the hair line to provide a seal against the entry of water, are likewise unsuitable. Such caps, while not in themselves exerting a crushing pressure upon the puff, are not sufficiently form retaining to protect the coifiure against various external pressures which are experienced during bathing. For example, the pressure exerted against the head as the body is propelled through the water during swimming is not absorbed by the cap, but rather is applied to the puflf and thereby crushes same. Accordingly, heretofore women have bathed or showered only at the risk of spoiling a boulfant or other delicate hair styling.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a swimming cap which is effective to prevent the entry of water and which is sufiiciently form retentive to protect the coiffure while yet exerting but a gentle distributed pressure insufiicient to crush the curls or waves.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cap for protecting bouflfant and similar delicate puff type 1ctlaiiffures during swimming, showering, skiing, and the Still another object of the invention is to provide a swimming cap which is inflatable to form a water tight seal about the hairline and to form a protective air cushion over the coiffure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cap of the class described which may be inflated in place to provide a substantially form retentive shroud substantially conformed to the contour of the particular hairstyle while exerting only a gentle pressure upon the hair.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a three quarter front view of a cap made in accordance with the invention as operably positioned upon the head of a wearer.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but illustrating the cap in cross section.

FIGURE 3 is a rear view of the cap.

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FIGURE 4 is a side view of the cap with portions broken away and shown in section.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of a broken out portion of FIGURE 4, illustrating the communication of the air passages of the cap with the valve stem thereof.

Referring now to the drawing, there will be seen to be provided a cap 11 which is inflatable so as to not only provide a water tight seal about the hairline of a user 12, but also to provide a substantially form retentive air cushioned shroud over the coiflure of the user without exerting sufficient pressure against the hair to crush the waves or curls. In particular, the cap 11 is arranged to protect a boufiant or similar delicate hair style involving 'a bubble or pull 13, as best shown in FIGURE 2.

Considering now the cap 11 in greater detail as to preferred structure, it is to be noted that same includes an outer cap shaped jacket 14 having a network of double walled protruding tubular portions 16 formed therein over the entirety of the jacket. The jacket is formed of low resiliency, highly yieldable water impervious material such as very thin rubber. It should be further noted that the network of tubular portions 16 preferably resembles the strands of a typical hair net, although in alternative arrangements the tubular portions may -be in right angular grid work or other lattice configurations. Irrespective of the particular configuration of the tubular portions, same includes a hairline tubular portion 17 about the margin of the jacket 14 which is adapted to generally conform to the hairline of the user, across the forehead and temples, beneath the ears and across the back of the neck. By virtue of the extreme yieldability of the jacket material, the jacket may be readily placed over the hair into position with the portion 17 adjacent the hairline, without disturbing or crushing the puff 13. The jacket may -be secured in such position as by means of a strap 18 secured to one side of the hairline portion 17 and adapted to pass under the chin of the user to be fastened to the other side of portion 17 in a generally conventional manner. -In addition, some flexibility of adjustment to accommodate variations in the conformity of the user 12 is afforded as by means of a draw strap and buckle arrangement as generally indicated at 19 (FIGURE 4) across the back of the jacket adjacent the neck engaging section of tubular portion 17. By cinching the strap and securing same with the buckle, the tubular portion 17 may be made to substantially snugly engage the user adjacent the hairline despite dimensional variations which may exist'from user to user.

-It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the jacket 14 is extremely yieldable and hence exerts but a minimal pressure against the pulf 13. However, by virtue of its yieldability the tubular portion .17 does not engage the user sufliciently tight to preventthe entry of .water. Also the yieldability of the jacket material precludes the jacket from protecting the coitfure against external puff crushing pressures which may be encountered while swimming or the like. These difficulties are uniquely overcome in accordance with the present invention by providing for the inflation of the tubular portions 16,17 with air. More particularly, the tubular portions 16, 17 define a network of air passages 21 in common communication with each other and with an inflation valve 22, as best shown in FIGURE 5. With the jacket preferably positioned upon the head, a hand pump or the like may be operatively associated with the valve 22 as by means of a valve stem. Pressurized air may be thereby introduced to the network of passages 21 through the valve 22 to thus inflate the tubular portions 16, 17 of the jacket. The inflated tubular portion 17 exerts sufiicient force against the portions of the user adjacent the hairline to thus provide a water- .3 tight seal to prevent the entry of water to the hair. The

network of inflated tubular portions 16 cause the jacket to be substantially form retentive in the manner of a balloon, at least to the extent of absorbing external forces and preventing same from being exerted upon the hair. Yet the outward pressure due to inflation of the portions 16 is of relatively low order and represents but a gentle pressure against the puff 13. This is particularly so by virtue of the substantial maze of the portions 16 which thus serve to evenly distribute the inflation air pressure over the hair. An even greater uniformity of pressure distribution is obtained where the cap includes a relatively form retentive cap shaped liner 23 interposed between the jacket and hair. The liner serves to distribute the inflation pressure of the tubular portions 16 over an increased contact area with the hair and thus minimizes the pressure applied to any given area thereof. In either case, whether the cap includes the liner 23 or merely the jacket 14, it is again emphasized that the gentle pressure due to inflation of the tubular portions 16, 17 is insuificient to crush the puff 13 while yet being sufficient overall torender the cap substantially form retentive. It is to be further noted that the cap need not be inflated in place upon the head as pre-inflation of the cap has also proven satisfactory to the accomplishment of the objects of the invention.

What isclaimed isz 1. A swimming, bathing, cap comprising a cap shaped jacket of a size adapted to be generally greater than the head of a user and having inflatable tubular air passages extending over the entire surface of said jacket forming a lattice work of tubular passages including a marginal passage adapted to substantially conform to the hair line of a user, said jacket formed of low resiliency highly yieldable water impervious material, a cap shaped liner disposed adjacent the interior surface of said jacket, said liner formed of relatively form retentive material compared to that of said jacket and attached to'said jacket adjacent said marginal passage, and means for admitting pressurized air to said passages to inflate. said passages and thereby provide a formretentive shroud for fitting spaced about the head of a user.

7 2. 'A swimming, bathing, cap comprising a cap shaped jacket of a size-adapted to be generally greater than the head of a user and having an integral lattice work of double walled protruding tubular portions extending over the entire surface of said jacket and including a marginal tubular portion about the opening of the jacket, said tubular portions defining a plurality of air passages in communication with each other, said jacket formed of highly yieldable water impervious material, a cap shaped liner disposed adjacent the interior surface of said jacket, said liner formed of relatively form retentive material compared to that of said jacket and attached to said jacket adjacent said marginal portion, and valve means communicating with said air passages for admitting pressurrized air thereto to inflate said tubular portions and thereby provide a form retentive shroud for fitting spaced about the head of a user.

3. A cap according to claim 2, further defined by said lattice Work of tubular portions being in the configuration of a net.

4. A cap according to claim 2, further defined .by a

strap secured to one side of said marginal tubular portion and adapted for fastening to the other side thereof, and cinch means at the back of said jacket adjacent said opening thereof.

5. A cap comprising a cap shaped jacket of a size adapted to be generally greater than the head of a user and'being of a highly yieldable water impervious material, said jacket having an integral lattice work of double walled protruding tubular portions extending over the entire surface thereof and including a margin tu bul-ar portion about the opening of the jacket adapted to sub stantially conform to the hairline of a user, said tubular portion defining a plurality of communicating air passages, valve means communicating with said air passages for admitting pressurized air thereto, a strap secured to one side of said jacket adjacent said opening and adapted to be selectively fastened to the other, side thereof, cinch strap and buckle means secured to the back of said jacket adjacent said opening, and a cap shaped liner of relatively 6. A swimming, bathing, cap comprising a cap shaped jacket formed of low resiliency highly yieldable water impervious material and having an inflatable tubular air passage adjacent the margin thereof .adapted to generally conform to the hairline of a user and adapted to sealingly engage with the head of a'user when inflated, the remainder of said jacket being a size adapted to be gen-v erally greater than the head of the user and having inflatable tubular air passages extending over the entire surface thereof forming a lattice work of tubular passages which when inflated maintains said remainder of said jacket for spacing outwardly away from the head of a user, and means for admitting pressurized air to said passages.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 882,686 3/ 1908 Ireland. 1,426,402 =8/1922 Moore ,2-68 1 1,501,409 7/1924 Logan 268 1 1,569,475 1/1926 Gilson 268 1,926,937 9/ 1933 Wet 2--68 2,072,483 3/1937 Nauudorf 2,68 2,242,420 12/1950 Giovanna 268 3,019,444 2/ 1962 I Pollack 268 3,186,004 6/1965 C-arlini 2--68 X FOREIGN PATENTS 613,673 5/1935 Germany.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. M. J. COLITZ, P. D. LAWSON, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A SWIMMING, BATHING, CAP COMPRISING A CAP SHAPED JACKET OF A SIZE ADAPTED TO BE GENERALLY GREATER THAN THE HEAD OF A USER AND HAVING INFLATABLE TUBULAR AIR PASSAGES EXTENDING OVER THE ENTIRE SURFACE OF SAID JACKET FORMING A LATTICE WORK OF TUBULAR PASSAGES INCLUDING A MARGINAL PASSAGE ADAPTED TO SUBSTANTIALLY CONFORM TO THE HAIR LINE OF A USER, SAID JACKET FORMED OF LOW RESILIENCY HIGHLY YIELDABLE WATER IMPERVIOUS MATERIAL, A CAP SHAPED LINER DISPOSED ADJACENT THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID JACKET, SAID LINER FORMED OF RELATIVELY FORM RETENTIVE MATERIAL COMPARED TO THAT OF SAID JACKET AND ATTACHED TO SAID JACKET ADJACENT SAID MARGINAL PASSAGE, AND MEANS FOR ADMITTING PRESSURIZED AIR TO SAID PASSAGES TO INFLATE SAID PASSAGES AND THEREBY PROVIDE A FORM RETENTIVE SHROUD FOR FITTING SPACED ABOUT THE HEAD OF A USER. 